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| Aasha - Dream Debut |
Mandhana's Masterclass
Opting to bat first, India faced an early setback but Mandhana's resilient 117, her first century at home and sixth in ODIs, anchored the innings. India was struggling at 99 for 5, but Mandhana's innings helped them add a record 166 runs for the sixth wicket, ending with a total of 265 for 8.
South Africa's Shaky Chase
South Africa's chase started poorly, losing key batters Laura Wolvaardt, Tazmin Brits, and Anneke Bosch for just 33 runs. Marizanne Kapp and Sune Luus provided some resistance, but they couldn't withstand the Indian spin attack on a pitch offering variable bounce and turn.
Asha Sobhana's Dream Debut
Asha Sobhana, India's oldest ODI debutant at 33, delivered a stellar performance with figures of 4 for 21. After India's pacers and Deepti Sharma had restricted the top order, Asha's control and maturity in pressure situations shone through. She dismissed key batter Kapp, turning the game in India's favor. Her debut performance was crucial in skittling South Africa for 122.
Key Moments
· Kapp's Dismissal: Asha's flighted delivery outside off deceived Kapp, leading to an easy catch at cover by Harmanpreet, giving Asha her maiden ODI wicket.
· Run-out: A mix-up between Dercksen and Luus resulted in Dercksen's run-out, further denting South Africa's chase at 75 for 5.
India's Rejigged Batting Order
With Shafali Verma departing early, D Hemalatha was promoted to No. 3 but could only manage 12 runs. Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur followed, with Richa Ghosh batting lower down the order. Ghosh, used as a finisher previously, was caught behind for 3.
Score Summary
· India: 265/8 (Smriti Mandhana 117, Asha Sobhana 4/21)
· South Africa: 122 all out (Kapp 34, Luus 27)
